The Norseman’s Song

An ancient man without a past hails a taxi driven by a petty criminal with no future.

Reluctantly, the pair embarks on a journey in search of a legendary whaler and murderer known only as the Norseman. This is a one-way trip — but who’s taking who for a ride?

The Norseman’s Song is a stylish blend of gothic mystery and modern crime noir. Evoking the spirit of Joseph Conrad and Edgar Allan Poe, Joel Deane creates a violent and lyrical vision of contemporary Australia with the pace and energy of a road movie and the haunting atmosphere of a nightmare.

Praise

'This is beautifully written crime noir by a writer in total command of his craft. A gripping, yet lyrical, read.' — Big Issue

'A slice of Southern gothic that is a unique, and very welcome addition to Australian literature.' — Chris Flynn, Australian Book Review

‘A bold unfolding of a succession of nightmares, issuing from probable truths and from feverish imaginings, a striking juxtaposition of legendary past and seedy present … While Deane belongs to a long line of yarn-spinners in Australian fiction (from Henry Lawson to Frank Hardy to Peter Carey) his closest affinity may be with one of the most antic and anarchic spirits of our literature …' — Peter Pierce, The Age.

'A three-part opus for the male voice … the diva of this novel is the Australian speech, superbly rendered. Blokes yarn: cut-throat tales of the cab-rank, news-round shockers, and finally the stuff of horror movies.' — Lucy Sussex, Sunday Age

'In its bold invention and exquisite command of narrative registers, The Norseman’s Song is bound to be up there with the most intriguing novels published in the 2010 fiction year.' — Martin Shaw, Readings

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We’re an independent Australian publisher with offices in Brisbane and Melbourne. We publish a unique blend of fiction, non-fiction and poetry and specialise in writing that is original and engaged — much of it written by young Australian writers you’ve never heard of, but should have. br>

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